1a. Does Janet have a valid complaint? Why or why not?
Based on the circumstances, Janet’s complaint is valid. According to the counselor’s code of ethics, counselors should seek the assistance of other professionals when in doubt of the patient’s treatment (NBCC, 2016). The disclosure by Janet regarding her previous alcoholic status indicated that she suffered from other mental conditions in the past. This should have led to further consultations with her and the other counselor in order to establish the nature of her mental condition and treatment regimen by the other counselor. Furthermore, the code of ethics (NBCC, 2016) recommends that the client provides a written consent informing the other professionals of the counseling relationship. This will enable other health care providers to establish the health issues and treatment approaches adopted to address the patient’s condition.
1b. How would you respond to the Licensing board complaint?
The Licensing Board is charged with the responsibility of investigating counselors’ actions following clients’ complaints. Once the notice is received, I would contact my attorney in order to initiate a response to the Licensing Board. Quinn (2014) observed that the advocate should appear in all board meetings as the representative. I would then contact my professional liability carrier in order to cover the board hearings. According to CNA & HPSO (2014), the liability policies do not only defend medical professionals against allegations of medical malpractice, but they also protect their licenses and record request reimbursements. Finally, I would put my health records in order regarding filing and proper formatting among others.
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1c. How would you avoid this type of complaint in the future?
So as to avoid occurrences of the same in the future, I will establish contact with the other mental health care providers who are responsible for previously treating the patients in order to establish the type of services that were being offered. I would also request my client to provide a consent form confirming that he/she was in agreement with my treatment regimen. Proper records indicating all the necessary patient information will be kept so as to provide details on patient treatment.
2a . What are its member benefits, activities, services to members, and current issue?
Private practitioners should ensure that they observe the proposed guidelines that govern counseling to achieve professional standards. Private practitioners should possess accredited academic qualifications and knowledge. The Council for Accreditation of Counselling and Related Education Programs (CACREP) provides education standards that promote the unity of the counseling profession. CACREP (2016) stated that during the entry-level professional practice, students should be covered by individual professional counseling liability insurance policies. They should also be supervised and their progress evaluated by professionals. During the practicum stage, students are required to work for ten weeks under supervision. They are then required to undergo an internship program. Once the students undergo this training, they are then ready to observe ethical issues during practice. They will ensure that their services are culturally sensitive, promote the well-being of the clients and seek informed client consent (ACA, 2014).
2b. How could membership be especially helpful to the private practitioner? Summarize what the ACA Code of Ethics says about the following: report writing, record keeping, and service reimbursement.
ACA (2018) recommends that members are able to access various insurance programs including professional liability insurance and long-term care insurance among others. The members also access discounted services like car rental and saving programs among others. Members can also access academic material that builds the members knowledge. Currently, ACA is opposing Ohio Bill which requires teachers to reveal transgender children to their parents. Private practitioners can be able to benefit from ACA through the acquisition of knowledge from the available academic material.
ACA (2014) suggests that counselors are required to consider a client’s level of understanding results and their impact on them when reporting the assessment of results. Additionally, they should ensure that records are secure from access by unauthorized persons. The counselors are required to consider the clients’ financial status and locality when setting their fees. Furthermore, bartering should only be accepted when requested by the client and carried out fairly. The culture of the client should also be put into consideration.
References
American Counselling Association. 2014. ACA code of ethics: As approved by the ACA Governing Council. Alexandria, VA: Author
American Counseling Association. 2018. Exclusive Member Benefits. Retrieved from https://www.counseling.org/membership/membership-benefits Accessed on 13 Aug. 2018
CNA & Healthcare Providers Service Organization. 2014. Understanding Counselor Liability Risk
Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs. 2016. 2016 CACREP Standards
Quinn, Rita. 2014. Mental Health Professionals: 10 tips on what to do if you receive a complaint from the licensing board. Retrieved from https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140902231007-256786759-mental-health-professionals-10-tips-on-what-to-do-if-you-receive-a-complaint-from-the-licensing-board Accessed on 13 Aug. 2018
National Board of Certified Counselors. 2016. Code of Ethics. National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc. and Affiliates
